GeForce GTX 590
Maxwell GPU Surface Book
GeForce GTX 590 vs Maxwell GPU Surface Book Performance Spectrum
About G3D Mark
G3D Mark is a standard benchmark that measures graphics performance in real-world gaming scenarios. It simplifies comparing cards from different brands, where higher scores directly correlate with better fps and smoother gaming experiences.
GeForce GTX 590 vs Maxwell GPU Surface Book FPS Benchmarks
Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with Ryzen 7 9800X3D to isolate GPU performance.
Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.
Path of Exile 2
Counter-Strike 2
League of Legends
GeForce GTX 590 vs Maxwell GPU Surface Book: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict
See where each GPU makes more sense in practice: raw FPS, VRAM, features, power draw, pricing, and long-term headroom.
GeForce GTX 590
2011Why buy it
- ✅50% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (3 GB vs 2 GB).
Trade-offs
- ❌2011 hardware with 3 GB of VRAM is already well past its comfortable zone for modern gaming, so it is hard to recommend now.
- ❌366% HIGHER MSRP$699 MSRPvs$150 MSRP
- ❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 4.8 vs 22.1 G3D/$ ($699 MSRP vs $150 MSRP).
- ❌1116.7% higher power demand at 365W vs 30W.
Maxwell GPU Surface Book
2015Why buy it
- ✅Costs $549 less on MSRP ($150 MSRP vs $699 MSRP).
- ✅Delivers 361.8% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 22.1 vs 4.8 G3D/$ ($150 MSRP vs $699 MSRP).
- ✅Draws 30W instead of 365W, a 335W reduction.
Trade-offs
- ❌Less VRAM, with 2 GB vs 3 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
- ❌2015 hardware with 2 GB of VRAM is already well past its comfortable zone for modern gaming, so it is hard to recommend now.
Quick Answers
Which GPU is faster for gaming right now?
Which GPU is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond?
Which GPU is the better buy today?
GeForce GTX 590 vs Maxwell GPU Surface Book Technical Specifications
Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.
GeForce GTX 590
The GeForce GTX 590 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in March 24 2011. It features the Fermi 2.0 architecture. The core clock speed is 607 MHz. It has 1024 ×2 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 365W. Manufactured using 40 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 3,341 points. Launch price was $699.
Maxwell GPU Surface Book
The Maxwell GPU Surface Book is manufactured by an unknown manufacturer. It was released in October 1 2015. It features the Maxwell architecture. The core clock ranges from 954 MHz to 993 MHz. It has 384 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 30W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 3,311 points.
Graphics Performance
The GeForce GTX 590 scores 3,341 and the Maxwell GPU Surface Book reaches 3,311 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 0.9% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The GeForce GTX 590 is built on Fermi 2.0 while the Maxwell GPU Surface Book uses Maxwell, both on 40 nm vs 28 nm. Shader units: 1,024 (GeForce GTX 590) vs 384 (Maxwell GPU Surface Book).
| Feature | GeForce GTX 590 | Maxwell GPU Surface Book |
|---|---|---|
| G3D Mark Score | 3,341 | 3,311 |
| Architecture | Fermi 2.0 | Maxwell |
| Process Node | 40 nm | 28 nm |
| Shading Units | 1024 ×2+167% | 384 |
Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)
The GeForce GTX 590 gets NVIDIA DLSS, which still tends to look cleaner in motion. The Maxwell GPU Surface Book leans on FSR, which is flexible and widely supported, but usually a bit rougher at the same settings.
| Feature | GeForce GTX 590 | Maxwell GPU Surface Book |
|---|---|---|
| Upscaling Tech | Upscaling support | Upscaling support |
| Frame Generation | Not Supported | Not Supported |
| Ray Reconstruction | No | No |
| Low Latency | NVIDIA Reflex | Standard |
Video Memory (VRAM)
The GeForce GTX 590 has 3 GB of VRAM, while the Maxwell GPU Surface Book carries 2 GB. GeForce GTX 590 gives you 50% more memory capacity, which matters more once you move into heavier textures, mods, or higher resolutions. Memory bus width is 256-bit on the GeForce GTX 590 and 128-bit on the Maxwell GPU Surface Book.
| Feature | GeForce GTX 590 | Maxwell GPU Surface Book |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 3 GB+50% | 2 GB |
| Memory Type | GDDR5 | GDDR5 |
| Memory Bandwidth | Unknown | Unknown |
| Bus Width | 256-bit+100% | 128-bit |
Display & API Support
DirectX support: 12 (11_0) (GeForce GTX 590) vs 12 (11_0) (Maxwell GPU Surface Book). OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 3.
| Feature | GeForce GTX 590 | Maxwell GPU Surface Book |
|---|---|---|
| DirectX | 12 (11_0) | 12 (11_0) |
| OpenGL | 4.6 | 4.6 |
| Max Displays | 4+33% | 3 |
Media & Encoding
Decoder: PureVideo HD (VP5) vs PureVideo VP6. Supported codecs: H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2 (GeForce GTX 590) vs H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2 (Maxwell GPU Surface Book).
| Feature | GeForce GTX 590 | Maxwell GPU Surface Book |
|---|---|---|
| Encoder | — | None |
| Decoder | PureVideo HD (VP5) | PureVideo VP6 |
| Codecs | H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2 | H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2 |
Power & Dimensions
The GeForce GTX 590 draws 365W versus the Maxwell GPU Surface Book's 30W — a 169.6% difference. The Maxwell GPU Surface Book is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 700W (GeForce GTX 590) vs 350W (Maxwell GPU Surface Book). Power connectors: 2x 8-pin vs PCIe-powered. Typical load temperature: 90°C vs 85.
| Feature | GeForce GTX 590 | Maxwell GPU Surface Book |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 365W | 30W-92% |
| Recommended PSU | 700W | 350W-50% |
| Power Connector | 2x 8-pin | PCIe-powered |
| Length | — | 0mm |
| Height | — | 0mm |
| Slots | 2 | 0-100% |
| Temp (Load) | 90°C | 85-6% |
| Perf/Watt | 9.2 | 110.4+1100% |
Value Analysis
At launch, the GeForce GTX 590 came in at $699, while the Maxwell GPU Surface Book launched at $150. On MSRP, Maxwell GPU Surface Book was 78.5% cheaper ($549 less). Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 4.8 (GeForce GTX 590) vs 22.1 (Maxwell GPU Surface Book) — the Maxwell GPU Surface Book offers 360.4% better value. The newer card here is Maxwell GPU Surface Book (2015 vs 2011).
| Feature | GeForce GTX 590 | Maxwell GPU Surface Book |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $699 | $150-79% |
| Performance per Dollar | 4.8 | 22.1+360% |
| Codename | GF110 | Surface Book |
| Release | March 24 2011 | October 1 2015 |
| Ranking | #555 | #779 |
Affiliate Disclosure
ChipVERSUS is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. We may earn a commission on qualifying purchases made through our links. This comes at no additional cost to you and helps support our work in providing comprehensive PC building guides and tools.
Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.
Top Performing GPUs
The most powerful gpus ranked by G3D Mark benchmark scores.
You May Also Compare
Similar GPU comparisons based on GeForce GTX 590 and Maxwell GPU Surface Book
